Athletes are always looking to get into “the zone” – a balance of attention, concentration, and confidence. Quick thinking is crucial to making decisions that can be the difference between winning and losing a game. Neurofeedback is a tool that allows for identifying the areas of an athlete’s brain that are responsible for mental flexibility, task switching, and rapid decision-making. This allows an athlete to control how their brain reacts to stress, which in turn can help achieve peak performance. Neurofeedback training can help an athlete increase their cognitive abilities, while reducing the white noise of distractions around them.

A sacroiliac belt (SI belt) used during the training part of your physiotherapy program is often recommended for both pain relief and support of the sacroiliac joints and/or pubic symphysis. SI belts are used as an adjunct during core muscle training and act both to provide mechanical support and sensory input to remind the brain which muscle(s) need ‘waking up’. Your physiotherapist can perform a couple of simple tests to determine whether an SI belt is recommended for you. Diane Lee’s patented Pelvic Support belt will help support your pelvis specifically where it is needed the most during your training period.

Q: What is IV Nutrient Therapy? A: Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are directly infused into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and allowing for maximum absorption. Q: Who can benefit from IV Nutrient Therapy? A: Almost everyone can benefit from faster, more effective nutrient absorption into the body with minimal, if any, gastrointestinal side effects. Intravenous therapies have been known to be beneficial for, but not limited to, chronic fatigue, anxiety, low immune system, infections, hormonal irregularities, pain management, inflammatory conditions, weight loss, pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, neurological conditions, migraines, detoxification, heavy metal toxicity, and athletic performance.

Being in a car accident (MVA) can be a severe and life-altering event. Although many people do make a full recovery shortly after their accident, others experience pain and psychological difficulties that endure longer. This may include: experiencing feelings of anxiety; feeling “on-edge” when driving; flashbacks and nightmares of the accident; or even an overall feeling of helplessness of ever feeling “normal” again. Counselling, specifically Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), has shown to be effective to help individuals overcome the trauma of an MVA.

Parents can ensure a student is starting the school year off right by talking to their child before school begins about their expectations for the year. Encouraging students to visualize what success will look like once they are back in school can also help. Once the school year has started, taking the time to meet with the teacher shows your child that you have created a connection with their teacher, which can help anxious students feel safer. If students with learning difficulties begin to struggle, it can be worth looking into the root of the problem, as well as discussing options with their teacher.

Women face financial issues that men do not, such as the gender wage gap and gender tax (paying more for the same services). For that reason, being in control of one’s finances is especially important for women to secure their future. It is important to make sure your will is up to date, have your own bank account and credit history, know where your important documents are kept, have long-term savings as well as short-term emergency savings, and have appropriate insurance coverage. These proactive steps will help insure there is less to worry about when it comes to your finances.

Is your pet prepared for the heat of late summer? Don’t forget how being overweight can be very stressful for some pets in the heat of summer – especially the short-nosed breeds that can’t breathe as easily as we’d like at the best of times. Any respiratory or heart conditions will exacerbate the stress of hot conditions for your pet. Keep your pet as lean as possible and avoid the summer heat. Make sure your pet drinks plenty of water and use fans or air conditioners to beat the heat. Never trust your pet’s condition in a warm car, as heat stroke can be fatal.

The opioid crisis is rapidly escalating, and not showing any signs of slowing down soon. We must protect our “kids” — which, by the way, our kids are always our kids, no matter their age or ours. Please listen and don’t react or preach. Make a safe space for drug use conversations. If they are going to use anyway, for example, encourage them not to use alone. Love them, support them, try and get them to help. A good listening ear from a non-judgmental counsellor may be just what they need.

Skin ages and becomes loose and less elastic as we grow older due to a reduction in fibroblast cells, which build the collagen proteins that keep our cells connected tightly. Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a safe and chemical-free way to trigger new collagen production. A hand-controlled device with tiny, shallow needles punctures the outer layer of the skin at 1000 times per second to create mild damage that will stimulate your body to produce new collagen and elastin. This process can be used all over the body, not just on the face, to treat wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, and more!

Total knee replacement is the most definitive treatment for advanced osteoarthritis. This procedure is typically done in a hospital setting, with 3-5 days of hospital stay. In recent years, it has become clear that healthy individuals can be discharged from the hospital on the day of their surgery, to safely and conveniently recover at home. Having surgery done at a medical centre provides a welcome alternative to hospitals. This can help reduce complications associated with hospitalization, and for many patients, the convenience and comfort of being at home with family is much preferred over the rustle and bustle of a busy surgical ward.